The hold up was the tide, or lack there of. Western Florida Bay experiences extreme tide swings and huge sections of the flats (or banks as they are called) get exposed for a few hours. These can easily be miles across and if you get stranded, you could be held hostage for hours.

First National Bank appears to have been named in jest by Flamingo residents of old (along with many other funny names). There are several other ‘banks’, but First National is the most interesting due to it’s geographical position in Florida Bay and the thousands and thousands of birds that make a living out there!

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Satellite view of approximate outline of First National Bank in Florida Bay.

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Exploring the Underside of the Surface: Mirror to the lush forest of Turtle grass beds on First National Bank!

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For paddlers, it’s easy to get stuck out here accidentally (that’s how I first did it). If you don’t want to, make sure to time your crossing close to high tide (at East Cape). It’s best to be on the rising side! Also remember that you are very close to the gulf here and that means that most of the water will come in the last hour of the flood cycle. It can be a long wait, so bring refreshments.

It’s an interesting kind of place, so I’ve actually stranded myself here a few times on purpose. First National Bank isn’t as much of a paddling destination as a temporary place to hang out. At about 6 miles out of Flamingo it stands between you and Sandy Key on the very edge of Florida Bay and Everglades National Park proper.

If you time it right, day or night – you could be in for a real treat!

First National Bank as seen from Carl Ross KeyCLICKfor zoomable superwide fullscreen VR panorama!

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When you settle in and hang out for a while you will notice how pristine Florida Bay appears , and it really is. But it’s not without it’s own problems, just like the rest of the Everglades ecosystem. Since the 1980’s there have been huge algal blooms and massive grass die-offs that have decimated large tracts of Florida Bay. The ‘Bay is always saltier than the ocean, but sometimes hyper-saline conditions can persist for years. This appears to be linked to reduced freshwater flow into the Shark River Slough and thereby out the Shark River into the Gulf & ‘Bay. Although salinity is not the only cause of the problem, hopefully the current Everglades restoration efforts will restore more natural sheet flow for all the ‘Glades and among other things help keep salinity levels normal in Florida Bay! Even today you can find huge patches of die-offs, the cause of which is not well understood yet.

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Fishermen a couple of miles away in a distant channel.

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White Pelicans flock to rest and chatter on the bank in Florida Bay.

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Being out there is the ultimate in chill! It’s so quiet, you will hear bird wings flap as they fly by and the slightest disturbance in what little water is left. Like the many small sharks hunting in the flats all around you. Then when the water drops you can easily stand in your boat and stretch out. Don’t try walking across the bank – it’s really slick soft mud. It will tear the shoes off your feet and any step could be up to your knees .. stuck in the mud!

! Mud !

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If your timing is off, you might have to wait for several hours.

Be nice to the bank, healthy Turtle grass beds are very important for the food chain of Florida Bay and to the fishing economy of the Keys!

Mirror, mirror of the flats, who’s the lushest of them all? The healthy Turtle grass forest of First National Bank.

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Sandy Key and Carl Ross Key a few miles due south across First National Bank.

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Chances are that you will not see another person for miles around. Along the fringes and channels of the bank you might see flats fishermen way in the distance. Fishing is very popular on Florida Bay, with many species like Snook, Redfish, Snapper, Trout & Jacks, even Tarpon lurking in the waters all around you. Florida Bay is a giant tidal lagoon estuary, and First National Bank is in the thick of it!

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Settle in and soak in the sunset!

You might have a few inches of water under your kayak here.

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Golden late afternoon sun shimmers over the dropping tide on First National Bank.

To learn more about Florida Bay I can recommend this informative and beautifully done book. There is a wealth of information inside along with incredible images by internationally recognized and top local Everglades photographers. If you like Florida Bay and the Keys, you will LOVE this book!

DISCLAIMER:: The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!